Chapter 2

"Chloe Vance, have you lost your mind?"

"Sienna was just trying to lighten the mood. What's with that cold, miserable face of yours?"

Julian kicked my office door open, his voice roaring with impatience.

I stared at the computer screen showing the randomized negotiation prices, a cold smirk playing on my lips.

"I just don't like spending my time around suicidal idiots."

"Who are you calling suicidal?!"

Julian’s voice pitched higher, his face turning an angry shade of red.

"Sienna set up this blind box negotiation because she felt bad that everyone has been working late. She wanted to bring some fun and energy to the team!"

"But look at you. You didn't say a word, just walked back to your office and slammed the door. Who are you trying to intimidate?"

Julian’s tone was dripping with annoyance.

"The entire project team is praising her for being creative. You're the only wet blanket here."

"Get back out there right now and apologize to Sienna."

The memory of the words "leaving with absolutely nothing" on that divorce papers from my past life flashed through my mind. My voice turned ice-cold.

"Julian, tampering with the walk-away price of an international acquisition is corporate suicide."

"If you two are tired of living, go jump off a cliff yourself."

"Leave me out of it."

Julian let out a harsh sneer.

"Stop trying to scare me with your dramatic corporate speeches!"

"Sienna already told me that her backer—a legendary hedge fund manager from Silicon Valley—is pulling the strings for her behind the scenes."

"Before the negotiation officially starts, he will send the real, optimized numbers directly to the heads of each department via email."

"It's called psychological warfare. Do you even understand high-level strategy?"

Psychological warfare?

Using the entire group’s offshore expansion as a poker chip for some imaginary influencer game?

It was beyond pathetic.

"Then enjoy your game. Just don't drag me down with you."

I pushed him out of my office and shut the door.

Before Julian’s footsteps could even fade down the hallway, the assistant of the Sterling family matriarch rushed in.

"Ms. Vance, Victoria Sterling has arrived!"

Sienna was Victoria’s distant niece. I didn't even need to guess—she had gone crying to the old lady the second I walked away.

"Chloe Vance, Sienna said everything is under control!"

"As Julian's wife, not only do you fail to appreciate Sienna's hard work, but you're also actively rebelling against management and ruining team morale!"

I cut off Victoria's screeching voice without an ounce of respect.

"There are less than twelve hours left before the negotiation begins."

"If we don't recover the real pricing sheet right now, the moment the sellers realize our numbers are a chaotic mess, they will short our stock. Do you have any idea what will happen to the Sterling Group then?"

"When the company goes under, is Sienna going to take the fall? Or are you?"

"Insolent!"

Victoria slammed her cane on the floor.

"Don't think just because your family empire, the Vance Group, holds a major stake in this merger, you can talk down to me!"

"Sienna was so stressed by your toxic attitude that she just fainted in the lounge!"

"I'm glad you remember the power of the Vance Group."

"I've been executing cross-border acquisitions with my father since I was eighteen. Do you honestly believe a TikTok influencer understands international trade better than I do?"

"Harvey, escort Mrs. Sterling out!"

"You—!"

Seeing that she couldn't bully me, Victoria stormed out, her face twisted in rage.

I reached into my drawer, took out my family's corporate digital authorization token, and called my core team.

A message popped up on my phone. It was a private Slack message from Wyatt, the VP of Strategic Investment.

The company-wide WhatsApp group was flooded with brainless praise for Sienna.

"Sienna has a literal Silicon Valley god backing her! This blind box pricing is going to be a genius move!"

"I just checked! Our team's bid was set to the rock-bottom minimum! This is so exciting!"

Wyatt’s message followed immediately after:

"Chloe, these lunatics are actually going to submit those randomized numbers. Are we really just going to stand by and watch?"

I typed out five words and hit send:

"Let them burn. Save yourselves."

There were only ten hours left.

In my past life, I flew across the Atlantic overnight, faced a hostile board of foreign regulators alone, and worked until my eyes literally bled.

And my reward was being thrown out of my own home with nothing but a divorce suit.

This time, I was going to grab some popcorn.

Without me acting as the shield and the brains, I wanted to see how long these clowns could keep up their little circus.

Just then, Julian burst back into my office.

"Chloe! Sienna is in tears and hyperventilating!"

"You are going to her right now, and you are getting down on your knees to apologize!"

I looked into his raging eyes and calmly replied,

"If she's hyperventilating, call an ambulance."

"What do you need me for? Am I an oxygen tank?"